By Myself – English Lyrics

• By: Linkin Park
• Album: Hybrid Theory

Lyrics & Translation

Unpack the raw emotion and introspective lyrics of Linkin Park's "By Myself," a powerful nu-metal anthem. This song offers a deep dive into expressions of loneliness, self-doubt, and internal struggle, making it an excellent piece to understand how the English language can convey vulnerability and aggression simultaneously through music. Its direct and relatable themes, combined with Chester Bennington's dynamic vocals and Mike Shinoda's poignant rap, provide a compelling context for learning emotional vocabulary and nuanced phrasing.

[English]

What do I do to ignore them behind me?

Do I follow my instincts blindly?

Do I hide my pride from these bad dreams

And give in to sad thoughts that are maddening?

Do I sit here and try to stand it?

Or do I try to catch them red-handed?

Do I trust some and get fooled by phoniness?

Or do I trust nobody and live in loneliness?

Because I can't hold on when I'm stretched so thin

I make the right moves, but I'm lost within

I put on my daily façade, but then

I just end up getting hurt again

By myself (myself) I ask why

(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself

(Myself) I ask why

(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on

(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)

It's all too much to take in

I can't hold on

(To anything, watching everything spin)

With thoughts of failure sinking in

If I turn my back, I'm defenseless

And to go blindly seems senseless

If I hide my pride and let it all go on

Then they'll take from me 'til everything is gone

If I let them go, I'll be outdone

But if I try to catch them, I'll be outrun

If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer

Then I'll be buried in the silence of the answer

By myself (myself) I ask why

(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself

(Myself) I ask why

(But in my mind, I find) I can't rely on myself

I can't hold on

(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)

It's all too much to take in

I can't hold on

(To anything, watching everything spin)

With thoughts of failure sinking in

How do you think I've lost so much?

I'm so afraid that I'm out of touch

How do you expect I will know what to do?

When all I know is what you tell me to

Don't you (know)

I can't tell you how to make it (go)

No matter what I do, how hard I (try)

I can't seem to convince myself (why)

I'm stuck on the outside

Don't you (know)

I can't tell you how to make it (go)

No matter what I do, how hard I (try)

I can't seem to convince myself (why)

I'm stuck on the outside

I can't hold on

(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)

It's all too much to take in

I can't hold on

(To anything, watching everything spin)

With thoughts of failure sinking in

I can't hold on

(To what I want when I'm stretched so thin)

It's all too much to take in

I can't hold on

(To anything, watching everything spin)

With thoughts of failure sinking

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ignore /ɪɡˈnɔːr/ B2	verb - to deliberately pay no attention to
follow /ˈfɑːloʊ/ A2	verb - to come after or go behind
instinct /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ B2	noun - a natural tendency or impulse
blindly /ˈblaɪndli/ B2	adverb - without thinking or understanding
pride /praɪd/ B2	noun - a feeling of self-respect or satisfaction
maddening /ˈmædənɪŋ/ C2	adjective - very annoying or frustrating
catch /kætʃ/ A2	verb - to capture or seize
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe in reliability or honesty noun - a firm belief in the reliability or truth
loneliness /ˈloʊnlinəs/ B2	noun - the state of being alone and feeling sad
façade /fəˈsɑːd/ C1	noun - an outward appearance that masks reality
defenseless /dɪˈfensləs/ B2	adjective - without protection or ability to defend
senseless /ˈsense.ləs/ B2	adjective - lacking meaning or reason
failure /ˈfeɪljər/ B1	noun - lack of success
convince /kənˈvɪns/ B2	verb - to persuade someone to believe or do something
stuck /stʌk/ B1	adjective - unable to move or progress